Helicopter Crashes into Busy Glasgow Pub, Killing Nine

A Eurocopter EC135T2i light twin helicopter, operated by Bond Air Services for Police Scotland, crashed into a busy pub in Glasgow on Friday night, killing nine and injuring more than 30. Among the nine fatalities are the helicopter’s three occupants–a Bond pilot and two police officers.

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is investigating, along with Eurocopter engineers. Eurocopter asserted that since the four main rotor blades are still attached to the main rotor mast, a crack in the mast is unlikely to have caused the accident.

The AAIB has stated that nothing detached from the helicopter in flight before the accident and that the crew did not transmit an emergency call. Radar data shows the helicopter fell vertically onto the Clutha Vaults pub. As the helicopter has no flight recorder, the investigators said they will rely on other instruments that can record data, such as the Fadec. Police helicopters routinely fly over city centers in the UK.